HAVE YOUR SAY: Can England win the 2017 Rugby League World Cup?

Drew Darbyshire

England lost 18-4 to Australia in the opening round of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup last week but we want to know if you think England can win the tournament.

The Three Lions took an early 4-0 lead in the game but Australia hit back with two tries from Matt Gillett and Billy Slater to lead 10-4 at the half-time break.

A penalty goal from Cameron Smith in the 75th minute as well as a full-length Josh Dugan try with a minute to spare saw the Kangaroos run-out 18-4 winners in the opening game of the tournament at the Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne on Friday.

England were the better side in the second half and even stuck in the game by defending solidly on their own goal-line when the Kangaroos were really piling on the pressure. 

Wayne Bennett named the following England team that faced Australia: 1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Jermaine McGillvary, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. John Bateman, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Gareth Widdop, 7. Luke Gale, 8. Chris Hill, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. James Graham, 11. Sam Burgess, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Sean O’Loughlin (C). Subs: 15. Chris Heighington, 16. Tom Burgess, 17. James Roby, 18. Ben Currie.

The Three Lions will aim to bounce back from defeat this weekend as they take on Lebanon on Saturday 4 November, 9am kick-off (GMT) at the Sydney Football Stadium.

But it won’t be easy for England though, with the Cedars causing an upset by beating France 29-18 last weekend.

And Bennett has named his team for Saturday’s clash: 1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Jermaine McGillvary, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. John Bateman, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Gareth Widdop, 7. Luke Gale, 8. Chris Hill, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. James Graham, 11. Ben Currie, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Sean O’Loughlin (C). Subs: 14. Alex Walmsley, 15. Chris Heighington, 16. Tom Burgess, 17. James Roby.

England and Australia are the favourites to make the final of this year’s World Cup, with the Kangaroos being expected to lift the trophy but the teams will be challenged along the way with New Zealand and Tonga both putting in very impressive performances against Samoa and Scotland respectively on the weekend.

And we at Love Rugby League want to know whether you believe England have got what it takes to win the World Cup for the first time in their history.

Do you think the Three Lions can go all of the way? Let us know in the comments below.

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